InterType is a software application which allows users to enter text in languages not readily available as keyboard layouts for the BlackBerry.

This extends the device's use for essential needs such as composing and sending emails / short messages as well as performing web searches in the those languages.

In its first release InterType offers BlackBerry keyboard extensions for Russian, Turkish, Greek and Bulgarian.

There are several different keyboard layouts pre-defined for each language so that users can pick the one that best fits their needs based on device and personal preferences. For example both Russian and Bulgarian keyboards come with both national standard's or worldwide phonetic layouts; the Turkish keyboard comes with both Turkish-Q and Turkish-F layouts and so on.

BEIKS promises to quickly add more layouts based on customer feedback and should the need arises.

Languages like Russian and Greek - in fact most languages beside English - require more buttons than are available on the standard BlackBerry keyboard and often even more than are available on a standard full size keyboard. To fit the alphabet InterType uses different techniques - some keyboard layouts map symbols from the alternative keyboard layout accessible through the SYM button and other layouts use the multi-tap approach to map several letters to one button.

The use of multi-tap technology uncommon for BlackBerries with standard keyboards, but has received warm welcome by beta testers and focus groups.

InterType will work on any BlackBerry device running BlackBerry OS 4.2 and higher. It also supports the soft-touch keyboard found in the BlackBerry Storm.

There are also some additional conditions and restrictions, the major of which is that not every application can make use of InterType's features.Since InterType is not extending the core OS functionality with another keyboard layout, it doesn't work like part of the OS and it is subject to the limitations that the OS imposes on all other applications.

On the other hand, installing InterType is as easy as any other application and so is removing it.

BEIKS LLC (http://www.beiks.com) is a privately-held company with headquarters in Dallas, TX and a European branch in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The company develops and publishes applications for mobile platforms such as BlackBerry?, Windows Mobile? , Android? and Palm OS?.

One of the pioneers of the mobile software business, BEIKS is best known for its BEIKS Dictionary Reader (BDicty) series of language and reference dictionaries, travel phrasebooks and spelling checkers.

The BEIKS software catalog now includes over 300 reference, education, entertainment, development and other titles available on the major mobile platforms.